Electrical connector

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector comprising a block having a matrix of square section recesses. Flat strips of resilient conductive material formed into open loops are arranged so that each loop fits into one of the recesses to form a pair of flexible electrical contacts; each strip interconnecting a row or part of a row of recesses. A cover over the matrix having apertures over the recesses through which electrical components can be inserted to make contact with, and be held by the flexible contacts of the strip of conductive material.

United States Patent [72} Inventor Robert Downhill l9 Sherborne Ave., Norwood Green, Middlesex, England [21 Appl. No. 886,244 [22] Filed Dec. 18, 1969 [4S] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 [54] ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 339/18 C, 339/17 M, 339/173, 339/256 R [51 Int. Cl H01r 29/00 [50] Fleld of Search 339/18, 19, 20.21. 22,198. 256. 258, 242

[56) Relerences Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,027,534 3/1962 Deakin 339/258 PX 6/1964 Schafer et al 339/258 PX 3,152,849 10/1964 Deakin 339/18 C 3,249,905 5/1966 Ruehlemann 339/18 C 3,354,421 11/1967 Rodgers 339/242 X Primary ExaminerMarvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Terrell P. Lewis Attorney-Watson, Cole, Grindle & Watson ABSTRACT: An electrical connector comprising a block having a matrix of square section recesses. Flat strips of resilient BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is particularly directed to a connector with which a number of components may be electrically connected without soldering simply by inserting a respective terminal of each component into a corresponding recess.

Accordingly the present invention provides an electrical connector having means defining a plurality of recesses and an electrical conductor interconnecting the recesses, in which the electrical conductor extends into each recess and provides along its length a pair of flexible electrical contacts within each recess into which the conductor extends.

Preferably the conductor is formed from a strip into a series of open loops each one extending when in position into a respective recess, the sides of the loops forming the said pair of flexible electrical contacts. Conveniently the recesses may be of square cross section and a connector block may comprise a matrix of recesses interconnected by a plurality of electrical conductors to form rows of electrically connected recesses. Conveniently there is provided a cover having a plurality of apertures in positions corresponding to the positions of the recesses through which electrical components may extend to make contact with the flexible electrical contacts fonned by the electrical conductor.

LIST OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of one embodiment of a connector block constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one loop of an electrical conductor suitable for use with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a second embodiment of a connector block constructed in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to FIG. 1 a base 11 is shown supporting a member 12 in which are formed a series of rows of square-section holes 13. The holes 13 are substantially deeper than they are wide and are slightly narrower near the base 11 than they are near the top. A flat strip of flexible electrically conducting material 14 is formed into loops as shown in FIG. 2. When in position in the member 12 the loops extend down into a respective hole. The sides 15 of each loop form a pair of flexible electrical contacts which will retain any electrical component inserted between them. The conductor 14 may extend along the whole length of a row of holes 13 or there may be provided a plurality of conductors each interconnecting a proportion of the holes of a row and having a strip of insulating material inserted into the hole or holes into which the ends of adjacent strips extend in order to isolate them one from another. The assembly of base 11, member 13 and conductors 14 is covered by an apertured cover 16, the apertures 17 being arranged to coincide with the holes in the member 13. Electrical connections may thus be made by pushing the terminals to be connected of a number of components each into one of the apertures 17 connected together by the conductor 14. The apertures 17 which are associated with each other by the conductor 14 are indicated by grooves or paint stripes on the apertured cover 16.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown an alternative construction for the connector block. In this construction a base 18 supports a plurality of interleaving members 19 and 20 which provide a plurality of square section holes 21. The holes 21 are deeper than they are wide. The members 19 are taller than the members 20 so that two sides of each hole 21 are higher than the other two. This provides a series of recesses in one direction into which the flat strip of flexible conducting material 14 (shown in FIG. 2) can extend. The tops 22 of the taller members 19 thus provide a flat support for an apertured member 23 havin a rtures 24 arranged in group over the square section ho es 1. The sides of the connector block are formed by side members 25 secured in place by adhesive.

Iclaim:

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a base member,

a first set of parallel spaced wall members and a second set of parallel spaced wall members, said first and second sets of wall members are mounted on said base member with said second set of wall members extending transverse to said first set of wall members thereby forming a plurality of rows each having holes, said plurality of rows extending parallel to said first set of wall members,

at least one elongated flexible conductor interconnection the holes of a corresponding one of said rows, said at least one conductor is a flat strip fonned into a plurality of loops, each of said loops constituting a pair of electrical contacts formed by the sides of a respective loop, said contact pairs are in spaced relationship with each other in a direction along the length of said conductor, said contacts of each said contact pair are separated along the longitudinal axis of said conductor, and said loops extend substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said conductor so that each of said loops extends into a respective one of said holes, and cover mounted over said first and second sets of wall members and having a plurality of apertures positioned in alignment with said holes.

2. An electrical connector, comprising:

a member having at least one row of holes,

at least one elongated flexible electrical conductor which is formed into a plurality of loops, each of said loops constituting a pair of electrical contacts formed by the sides of a respective loop, said contact pairs are in spaced relationship with each other in a direction along the length of said conductor, said contacts of each said contact pair are separated along the longitudinal axis of said conductor, and said loops extend substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said conductor so that each of said loops extends into a respective one of said holes.

3. An electrical connector as in claim 2 wherein said holes in said member are formed by at least one first pair of spaced parallel walls and at least one second pair of spaced parallel walls extending transverse to said at least one first pair of walls thereby dividing said member to form said at least one row of holes, and said elongated flexible conductor extends over the top of each said transverse wall.

4. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein said holes have a square cross section.

5. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 4 wherein the size of said holes reduces in the direction in which said loops extend therein.

6. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 5 in which said electrical conductor extends for less than the whole length of a row of said holes.

7. An electrical connector as in claim 6 wherein there are provided a plurality of said electrical conductors for each row of recesses.

8. An electrical connector as in claim 7 further comprising a cover mounted over said holes and having a plurality of apertures each aligned with a respective one of said holes.

9. An electrical connector as in claim 8 wherein said aper tures are in rows shorter than the rows of said holes, each row of apertures is in a position corresponding to that part of a row of holes interconnected by said at least one electrical conductor.

10. An electrical connector as in claim 4 further comprising a cover mounted over said holes and having a plurality of apertures each aligned with a respective one of said holes. 

1. An electrical connector comprising: a base member, a first set of parallel spaced wall members and a second set of parallel spaced wall members, said first and second sets of wall members are mounted on said base member with said second set of wall members extending transverse to said first set of wall members thereby forming a plurality of rows each having holes, said plurality of rows extending parallel to said first set of wall members, at least one elongated flexible conductor interconnection the holes of a corresponding one of said rows, said at least one conductor is a flat strip formed into a plurality of loops, each of said loops constituting a pair of electrical contacts formed by the sides of a respective loop, said contact pairs are in spaced relationship with each other in a direction along the length of said conductor, said contacts of each said contact pair are separated along the longitudinal axis of said conductor, and said loops extend substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said conductor so that each of said loops extends into a respective one of said holes, and a cover mounted over said first and second sets of wall members and having a plurality of apertures positioned in alignment with said holes.
 2. An electrical connector, comprising: a member having at least one row of holes, at least one elongated flexible electrical conductor which is formed into a plurality of loops, each of said loops constituting a pair of electrical contacts formed by the sides of a respective loop, said contact pairs are in spaced relationship with each other in a direction along the length of said conductor, said contacts of each said contact pair are separated along the longitudinal axis of said conductor, and said loops extend substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said conductor so that each of said loops extends into a respective one of said holes.
 3. An electrical connector as in claim 2 wherein said holes in said member are formed by at least one first pair of spaced parallel walls and at least one second pair of spaced parallel walls extending transverse to said at least one first pair of walls thereby dividing said member to form said at least one row of holes, and said elongated flexible conductor extends over the top of each said transverse wall.
 4. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein said holes have a square cross section.
 5. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 4 wherein the size of said holes reduces in the direction in which said loops extend therein.
 6. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 5 in which said electrical conductor extends for less than the whole length of a row of said holes.
 7. An electrical connector as in claim 6 wherein there are provided a plurality of said electrical conductOrs for each row of recesses.
 8. An electrical connector as in claim 7 further comprising a cover mounted over said holes and having a plurality of apertures each aligned with a respective one of said holes.
 9. An electrical connector as in claim 8 wherein said apertures are in rows shorter than the rows of said holes, each row of apertures is in a position corresponding to that part of a row of holes interconnected by said at least one electrical conductor.
 10. An electrical connector as in claim 4 further comprising a cover mounted over said holes and having a plurality of apertures each aligned with a respective one of said holes. 